Habitat: This
species is so far known only from its type locality
in the Jequetepeque River, just to the west of Chilete
(Cajamarca and La Libertad) in the Peruvian Amazon
(Silfvergrip 1996, Ortega et al. 2012, Bockmann 2003).
Its area of occupancy (AOO) has been estimated to
be 9 km² (using a 3 x 3 km grid cell). The species
occurs in only one location, based on the current
major threats affecting it (habitat modification and
pollution). Diet: It feeds on insect
larvae, crustaceans and small fishes (Galvis et al.
2006). Remarks:
This species has a very restricted distribution (AOO
= 9 km²) and occurs in only one location in northern
Peru. The quality of the habitat is declining due
to water pollution from urban areas and mining, the
presence of a dam that leads to changes in water levels,
and micro-habitat destruction due to channelling of
the river. It is therefore listed as Critically Endangered
(IUCN 2016).
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Heptapteridae
Distribution:
South America:Jequetepeque River basin, Peru. Type
locality: Peru, Jequetepeque River, just
W of Chilete (06º19'90"S, 78º25'90"W).
Size:
7.5cm. (3ins)
Temp:
24-26°C (75-79°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
Reference:
Bockmann, F.A. and
G.M. Guazzelli, 2003. Heptapteridae (Heptapterids).
p. 406-431. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J.
Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes
of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS,
Brasil. Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist
of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes),
and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa
1418:1-628. Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2021. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, version (01/20021).
Yépez, V., Ortega Torres, H., Velasquez
Quispe, M., Hidalgo del Aguila, M., Espino Ciudad,
J., Valenzuela Mendoza, L. & Chocano,
L. 2016. Rhamdia xetequepeque. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2016
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.